Charging for an ip based communication system

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a method for charging for services in a communication system supporting a Diameter IP protocol, comprising defining at least one attribute value pair to define sponsorship information.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the provision of charging services inInternet protocol networks, and particularly to shared chargingservices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Diameter is an IETF protocol that has been specifically designed for theInternet infrastructure. Diameter unifies authentication, authorizationand accounting (AAA) transactions.

The accounting related extension (AAA) of the base Diameter protocol islikely to be used in networks which are all-IP (Internet Protocol) basedfor charging purposes.

Furthermore, in all-IP based networks, it will be essential to provide amechanism for transferring sponsorship information to a centralizedcharging function. In this context, sponsorship refers to the‘underwriting’ by a third party of part or all of the costs of acommunication session established by a user of a communication system.Thus, when a user makes a call, a third party may agree to pay for (i.e.sponsor) a certain part of the costs associated with that call.

The principle of shared charging is discussed in United Kingdom patentapplication number 0031459.1.

However, no provision for accommodating sponsorship in chargingmechanisms has yet been provided for in relation to implementations ofall-IP networks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedtechnique for accommodating charging in IP networks, which addresses theabove-stated problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a method forcharging for services in a communication system supporting a Diameter IPprotocol, comprising defining at least one attribute value pair todefine sponsorship information.

There is preferably provided an attribute value pair defining sharedcharging information.

There is preferably provided an attribute value pair defining sharedpercentage information. There is preferably provided an attribute valuepair defining shared amount information. There is preferably provided anattribute value pair defining a sponsor identity.

The method may comprise receiving a request to establish an IP sessionfrom a user of the system; initiating an account with an accountcontroller of the system; establishing the IP session; and initiatingthe monitoring of the account.

The step of initiating an account may comprise transferring sponsorshipinformation to a charging system, the charging system being responsiblefor monitoring of the account.

The sponsorship information may be transferred from an applicationserver.

The account may be initiated responsive to an account request message.

The monitoring of the account may be initiated responsive to an accountrequest message.

According to the present invention there is further provided acommunication system supporting a Diameter IP protocol and for chargingfor services, wherein the Diameter protocol is adapted to define atleast one attribute value pair to define sponsorship information.

The attribute value pair may define shared charging information. Theattribute value pair may define shared percentage information. Theattribute value pair may define shared amount information. The attributevalue pair may define a sponsor identity.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a Diameter IPprotocol adapted to define at least one attribute value pair to definesponsorship information

The Diameter IP protocol sponsorship information may be provided toenable shared charging.

According to another aspect the present invention provides acommunication system comprising: call control function means adapted toinitiate a call session for a user of the system; an application serverfor providing an application for a user of the system in a call session;and a charging means for charging a call session for a user, wherein thecall control function means, the application server and the chargingmeans are adapted to communicate using a Diameter IP protocol.

The call control function means may be a serving call state controlfunction.

The charging means may comprise an on-line charging function and anoff-line charging function.

The charging may be initiated on the basis of a Diameter IPcommunication between the call control function and the charging means.

Shared charging information may be communicated to the charging meansfrom the application function on the basis of a Diameter IPcommunication.

The charging means may monitor the call session charges responsive to aDiameter IP communication from the call control function.

Thus, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, shared charging information is introduced into the Diameterprotocol. The invention thus advantageously provides an enhancement tothe Diameter charging capability, and provides a mechanism for effectivesponsorship in all-IP networks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention and as to how thesame can be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way ofexample to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the main network elements in an exampleimplementation of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the signaling in a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 3(a) to 3(c) illustrate further details of the signaling of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described herein with reference to a particularillustrative embodiment. However, such embodiment is presented for thepurposes of illustrating the present invention, and does not limit thescope thereof.

In particular, the present invention is described herein with referenceto a particular example of a UMTS network supporting user equipment,such as a mobile station, and providing connections for the userequipment to external IP networks.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the main elements of a UMTSnetwork implementing an all-IP Diameter protocol system for the purposesof describing the present invention. In FIG. 1 only those elements of aUMTS system necessary for supporting the Diameter protocol charging inaccordance with the present invention are illustrated. The fullimplementation of such a system will be apparent to one skilled in theart.

FIG. 1 illustrates generally a UMTS network infrastructure 10 includinga serving call state control function (S-CSCF) 4, a combined chargingcollector function (CCF) and online charging system (OCS) 8, and anapplication server (AS) 6. The S-CSCF 4 supports a call session for theuser equipment, such as user equipment 2, connected in the UMTS network10. The CCF provides the centralized charging function for offlinecharging, and the OCS provides the centralized charging for onlinecharging. The S-CSCF 4 additionally has a connection 12 to an IP networkor element of an IP network external to the UMTS network 10, asdescribed further hereinbelow. In particular, the connection 12 connectsto a service provider or terminating part with which the user equipment2 establishes a session.

The UMTS network provides access to other, external IP services ornetworks for the user equipment 2. For the purposes of the presentexample, it is assumed that a call session is to be established betweenthe user equipment 2, and a B-subscriber 22 in a further IP network 18.The further IP network 18 supports the call session for the B-subscriber22 with a serving call state control function (S-CSCF) 20. For thepurposes of this example, as the initiating caller the user equipment 2is considered to be the A-subscriber. For the purposes of supporting thecall session, the connection 12 is between the respective S-CSCFs of therespective subscribers.

The B-subscriber may, for example, be a further user equipment or aservice provided by a third party.

FIG. 1 also illustrates the protocol interfaces for the various IPnetwork elements. The S-CSCF 4 is connected to the AS 6 via an ISCinterface represented by block 12. The ISC interface may, for example,be a session initiation protocol (SIP) interface. The CCF/OCS 8 isconnected to the S-CSCF 4 via a Diameter protocol represented by block16. The CCF/OCS 8 is connected to the AS 6 via a diameter protocolrepresented by block 14.

The principle of shared charging enables operators and/or theterminating user to co-operate to share or distribute the charges for acall. In conventional charging the user responsible for originating thecall bears the full cost of the call. Under a shared or sponsoredcharging regime the user of the terminating part may bear part of thecost, either voluntarily or under requirement from an operator.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention proposes the use ofshared charging information in a Diameter protocol as new AVPs(attribute value pairs) or as part of an existing groupedService-Parameter-Info AVP.

The sponsorship charging information in a Diameter ACR (accountingrequest) may preferably be defined with four AVPs: shared charginginformation; shared percentage information; shared amount information;and sponsor identity information. These are described in more detail inturn hereinbelow.

The type of shared charging information may preferably be indicated by acode according to Table 1. TABLE 1 Shared charging code Description 00Normal charging - Charges not shared. Used when the user of theterminating part or the service provider is not to bear any of the costof the call. The originating subscriber is charged for the full cost ofthe call. 01 Network access fee - Indicates that the user of theterminating part or the service provider will bear part or all of thenetwork access charge. 02 Transferred data towards used service -Indicates that the user of the terminating part or the service providerwill bear part or all of the cost of transferring data towards a usedservice. 03 Used service - Indicates that the user of the terminatingpart or the service provider will bear part or all of the cost of a usedservice. 04 CallControl and MobilityManagement - Indicates that the userof the terminating part or the service provider will bear part or all ofthe charge due to call routing and mobility management (in theCallProcessing server). 05 Total cost of transaction excluding otherservices' fees - Indicates that the user of the terminating part or theservice provider will bear a proportion of the total charge of the callexcluding the charge for the use of supplementary/value-added services.06 Total cost of transaction - Indicates that the user of theterminating part or the service provider will bear a proportion of thetotal charge of the call.

Table 1 includes examples of shared charging information. Other types ofshared charging may be used in addition to or instead of those listedabove when needed.

The shared percentage information, implemented as an AVP, has a valuewhich defines the amount of the fee (0-100%) that the service provideror terminating part is willing to pay, according to shared chargingalternatives.

The shared amount information, implemented as an AVP, has a value thatdefines the fixed amount of the fee which the service provider orterminating part is willing to pay, according to shared chargingalternatives. If the fixed amount is used, the shared percentage must beset to zero.

The sponsor identity information, implemented as an AVP, defines theidentity of the party willing to pay the sponsored part.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an example embodiment of the presentinvention is now described.

In a first step, user equipment 2 transmits an INVITE message 100 in thepacket domain—as represented by block 101 to the serving call statecontrol function (S-CSCF) 4 allocated to the call session.

Responsive thereto, in the preferred embodiment an initial accounting isstarted by the S-CSCF 4. As represented by Diameter protocolcommunication exchange 102 in FIG. 2, and shown in further detail inFIG. 3(a), the S-CSCF sends an ACR(START_RECORD) accounting requestmessage 200 to the CCF/OCS 8. The CCF/OCS 8 replies with an ACAaccounting acknowledgement message 202. If the user equipment 2 is apre-paid user, an initial threshold value is also sent to the S-CSCF 4by the CCF/OCS 8.

Following the start of the initial accounting, the S-CSCF 4 transmits anINVITE message 104 to the AS 6.

The AS 6 preferably performs a one-time event, as represented byDiameter protocol communication 106. As shown in further detail in FIG.3(b), the AS 6 sends an ACR(EVENT_RECORD) account request message 204 tothe CCF/OCS 8. This ACR includes any sponsorship information, where theAS 6 confirms its identity and also that it will pay a percentage, or apredetermined fixed amount, of certain charges. In the present example,the AS 6 informs the CCF/OCS 8 that it intends to pay for 50% of theCall Control charges and 50% of the mobility management charges, ascharged by the S-CSCF 4. The CCF/OCS 8 stores this information. TheCCF/OCS 8 replies with an ACA accounting acknowledgement message 205.

Thereafter, the AS 6 returns an INVITE message 108 to the S-CSCF 4. TheS-CSCF then forwards an INVITE message 110 towards the terminating party(the B-subscriber 22), i.e. the recipient of the call session initiatedby the user equipment 2.

Responsive to satisfactory acceptance of the call, in accordance withknown techniques, the terminating party returns a positiveacknowledgement message 112 to the S—CSCF 4, which message may be a2000K message.

Responsive to receipt of the acknowledgement message, interim accountingis triggered from the S—CSCF 4 to the CCF/OCS B, as represented byDiameter protocol communication 114 in FIG. 2.

As shown in further detail in FIG. 3(c), the S-CSCF 4 sends anACR(INTERIM_RECORD) account request message 206 to the CCF/OCS 8 toobtain a final tariff for the connection. In the present example,referring again to FIG. 3(c), an ACA account acknowledgement message 208is sent from the CCF/OCS 8 to the S-CSCF 4, which message includes thenew tariff. More importantly, in a pre-paid user scenario, a newthreshold value is sent from the CCF/OCS 8 to the S-CSCF 4.

Finally, a positive acknowledgement is transmitted from the S-CSCF 4 tothe User equipment 2.

From the above description, and from the protocol interfaces shown inFIG. 1, it will be apparent that the communications 102, 106, 114represent Diameter protocol communications, and the other communicationsof FIG. 2 are, for example, SIP or ISC protocol communications.

Thus the present invention provides for the actual charge towards eachparty to be determined for a Diameter protocol system.

The present invention is described herein with reference to examples ofpreferred embodiments for the purpose of illustration, and is notlimited to any such embodiments. The scope of the present invention isdefined by the appended claims.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A method for charging for services in acommunication system supporting a Diameter IP protocol, comprisingreceiving a request to establish an IP session from a user of thesystem; and initiating an account with an account controller of thesystem, wherein the step of initiating an account comprises transferringsponsorship information to a charging system, the charging system beingresponsible for monitoring of the account; the method further comprisingestablishing the IP session; and initiating the monitoring of theaccount.
 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the sponsorshipinformation is transferred from an application server.
 25. A methodaccording to claim 23 wherein the account is initiated responsive to anaccount request message.
 26. A method according to claim 23 wherein themonitoring of the account is initiated responsive to an account requestmessage.
 27. A method according to claim 23 wherein the sponsorshipinformation is defined by at least one attribute value pair.
 28. Amethod according to claim 27 wherein there is provided an attributevalue pair defining shared charging information.
 29. A method accordingto claim 27 wherein there is provided an attribute value pair definingshared percentage information.
 30. A method according to claim 27wherein there is provided an attribute value pair defining shared amountinformation.
 31. A method according to claim 27 wherein there isprovided an attribute value pair defining a sponsor identity.
 32. Acommunication system supporting a Diameter IP protocol comprising:control function means adapted to initiate an IP session for a user ofthe system; an application server for providing an application for auser of the system in an IP session; an account controller forinitiating an account; a charging means for charging an IP session for auser, wherein the charging means receives sponsorship information oninitiation of the account, and is responsible for monitoring of theaccount.
 33. A communication system according to claim 32 wherein thecontrol function means is a serving call state control function.
 34. Acommunication system according to claim 32 wherein the charging meanscomprises an on-line charging function and an off-line chargingfunction.
 35. A communication system according to claim 32, wherein thecharging is initiated on the basis of a Diameter IP communicationbetween the call control function and the charging means.
 36. Acommunication system according to claim 32, wherein shared charginginformation is communicated to the charging means from the applicationfunction on the basis of a Diameter IP communication.
 37. Acommunication system according to claim 32, wherein the charging meansmonitors the call session charges responsive to a Diameter IPcommunication from the call control function.
 38. A communication systemaccording to claim 32 wherein the Diameter protocol is adapted to defineat least one attribute value pair to define sponsorship information. 39.A communication system according to claim 38 wherein the attribute valuepair defines shared charging information.
 40. A communication systemaccording to claim 38 wherein the attribute value pair defines sharedpercentage information.
 41. A communication system according to claim 38wherein the attribute value pair defines shared amount information. 42.A communication system according to claim 38 wherein the attribute valuepair defines a sponsor identity.
 43. A Diameter IP protocol adapted todefine at least one attribute value pair to define sponsorshipinformation.
 44. A Diameter IP protocol according to claim 43 whereinthe sponsorship information is provided to enable shared charging.